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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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June 2006 |
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Parish Council on steroidsThere was evidence of passion and partnership at Synod 2006. Phil Lewis found some surprises. Was it the new, somewhat squeezy venue, the brisk weather, the fresh blood from across the Strait or something in the water? Whatever the reason, the third and final session of the forty-ninth Synod of the Diocese, which commenced life in May 2004, seemed characterised by substantial engagement, charitable but robust debate and touches of humour. Even the untimely fracturing of the Bishop’s Seal due to metal fatigue which gave rise to unsealed summonses (Shock! Horror!) failed to dampen the sense of a diocese moving forward. Sealed or not, the Bishop had indeed summoned the troops, declared the battle plan to a packed hall and presided over reports, legislation and budgetary provision seen as necessary to build the momentum. Bowditch Jr drew applause with his candid assessment of youth work around the diocese and his impassioned plea for more to be done. That one landed firmly in Bishop John’s court. Burnie Parish reps gave a similarly frank report of the choices facing that parish, choices they are committed to work through. Geeves was Geeves. Where does the guy get the energy? And the clothes? Our Swiss Army Knife of a DME spoke with passion of the pluses and minuses, the blessings and challenges, and the growing international interest in the Enabler-Supported Parish model sustaining one sixth of the Diocese. But it was the substantive debates over the code of behaviour and the means to fairly share the costs of running the Diocese which brought out the depths of vigour and wisdom which underpin our diocese at this time. Chancellor Mills with typical clarity and commitment to quality nursed the new code of behaviour, Faithfulness in Service, through to adoption. The code is voluntary, aspirational and educational, we were told. Yes, Synod understood that grace, not law, lies at the heart of our faith. But as Dean Stoddart reminded us, society is busily codifying so many aspects of life in the 21st century. To blink now would be to give the wrong message. And money finally got a guernsey mid-Saturday afternoon. There seemed little dispute that the costs of the Diocese should be shared equitably and transparently, but how was that to be achieved? Assessment related to expenditure, some said, was a tax on growth. The parable of the talents was brought in; equity seemed lacking there, we were told, and in the paying of those labourers who only put in an hour. And anyway, what was this ‘savings adjustment’? All too hard, some said. So it was handballed to another committee. Stay tuned. From then on, the pace picked up. Simplified Standing Rules for Synod were passed with barely a nod. General motions swirled around, dealing with everything from intinction (and who called those little round wafers ‘Jesus pills?), to applauding the work of chaplains and clergy wives. A big pay rise was mentioned, the financial report required 30 seconds and Synod took some persuading to consider the Estimates in Committee. Some said the jam and cream scones supplied by a merry band of young people from St John’s Launceston kept the bonhomie flowing. Young Atkins got people moving to the beat with a mix of Christian music. The beautiful Grammar Chapel, despite the sub-arctic temperature, witnessed a Holy Communion service led with warmth by Chaplain Sargent, and a Jill Martin sermon on seeing things through God’s eyes. There were echoes here of the service launching Synod, and the Dean’s challenge to delegates, delivered with feeling. But your correspondent must protest at the loss of the sharp edges of the General Debate! People were on their feet talking about mission, about change, about good and faithful work by agencies such as Mission to Seafarers, even about global warming, of all things. OK, the noun ‘bedlam’ did get one mention, and there was a gentle protest about what was seen as the indecently speedy treatment of the financial motions, but the tenor was positive and the delegates as a whole committed to moving forward with this MAPing bishop. I guess that must have been it! The Presidential Address, without tricky technology, set the scene, the flavour. The stories flowed, mission breaking out across the state. And the challenge: these are the goals, these are my goals, what are yours? Not much room to hide there. One star turn concluded this Synod. Neville Newett has hung up his spurs, sent off to imminent retirement with a wonderful, gentle speech from Chris Jones, musing reflectively on former ‘Neville Moments’. He’ll be missed.
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